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Neil Selwyn

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Neil Selwyn

Professor

 https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9489-2692
1996 …2026

Research activity per year

Personal profile

Biography

Neil Selwyn is a Professor in the Faculty of Arts, Monash University who has worked for the past 30 years researching the integration of digital media into schools, universities and adult learning. He is recognised as a leading international researcher in the area of digital education, with particular expertise in the 'real-life' constraints and problems faced when technology-based education is implemented. He is currently working on nationally-funded projects examining the implications of Australia's social media and smartphone bans for young people, AI and the changing nature of educational work, and the nature of digital reading. 

Neil has carried out funded research on digital technology, society and education for the Australian Research Council (ARC), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), British Academy, the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare (FORTE), the BBC, Nuffield Foundation, the Spencer Foundation, Gates Foundation, Microsoft Partners in Learning, Becta, Australian Government Office of Learning and Teaching (OLT), Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN), Save The Children, Centre for Distance Education, the Welsh Office, National Assembly of Wales and various local authorities in the UK.
 
Neil is a regular keynote speaker at international conferences, and has worked with a range of international organisations including the UN, UNESCO, OECD, Council of Europe, Fundación BBVA and various national government organisation and think-tanks. Neil is a regular media commentator (NYT, WSJ, CNN, Guardian, BBC, ABC), and also produces/ hosts the 'Education Technology Society' podcast - exploring the latest ideas from across the critical studies of education and technology. Neil is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia.
 
 

Research interests

Main research interests
  • Digital media and society
  • Digital inequalities
  • Media education & media literacy
  • Sociology of digital education
  • Public policy relating to digital technology

 

Current research and writing activities
  • AI, automation and data-driven education
  • Issues of environmental sustainability, eco-justice and degrowth associated with digital technology use
  • Social media and smartphone bans for young people
  • Digital disconnection (and what is means to live without digital technology)
  • Digital media and children

External positions

Guest Professor, Lunds Universitet (Lund University)

2 Jan 2025 → 31 May 2025

Honorary Research Fellow, University of Oxford

1 Oct 2023 → 1 Oct 2027

Visiting Professor, Goteborgs Universitet (University of Gothenburg)

1 Sept 2016 → 1 Aug 2017

Research area keywords

  • digital
  • education
  • policy
  • sociology
  • AI and data science
  • sustainability
  • Work
  • Media and Communications Studies

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  1. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
  2. SDG 4 - Quality Education
    SDG 4 Quality Education
  3. SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities
    SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
  4. SDG 13 - Climate Action
    SDG 13 Climate Action
  5. SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
    SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
View all 24 projects
View all 239 research outputs
View all 6 press/media